Filling feeler slide mechanism



June 15, 194.8. R NN A I 2,443,401

FILLING FEELER SLIDE MECHANISM Filed Oct. 31, 1946 69 JOHN RINNE EVERETTH.ASHTON yh zssw ATTORNEY Patented June 15, 1 948 FILLING FEELER SLIDEMECHANISMv John Rinne, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Everett H. Ashton, JerseyCity, N. J assignors to The M. W. Kellogg Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application October 31, 1946, Serial No.706,826. 14 Claims. (01. 139-259 )1 The present invention relates to afeeler controlled slide mechanism for initiating in a loom areplenishment operation by which a nearly exhausted bobbin isautomatically replaced by a full one.

In a conventional loom, there is provided a transferring or replenishingmechanism, the operation of which is initiated by the rotation of astarting rod. A feeler controlled slide mechanism has a filling camfollower which is provided with a trip, and which by virtue of thefilling-motion cam on the main cam shaft, is brought forward each timethat the shuttle is checked in the left-hand side of the loom. A feelerslide located between the filling cam follower and the startin rod, andforming part of the feeler controlled slide mechanism, is ordinarilyheld in such a position that it does not engage the trip. A feelermechanism operates to detect substantial exhausting of the fillingsupply on the bobbin, and when this condition is indicated, a connectingrodis put into action. The actuation of this connecting rod causes thefeeler slide through a comparatively complicated train of mechanism tobe moved in .position to engage the filling cam follower trip as itcomes forward on itsnext stroke, thereby operating the, starting rod,and in turn, the replenishing mech-' anism.

One object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedfeeler controlled slide mechanism, which is comparatively simple andinexpensive to manufacture, which is positive, certain, reliable andquick in operation, and which lends itself to accurate control, even athigh speed.

Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing particular description, and from an inspection of theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective of a fillingfeeler slide mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fi 2 is a fragmentary perspective of the filling feeler slide mechanismpartly in section, and shown at the instant the slide bolt forming partthereof is latched to the feeler slide in response to a detection of anearly exhausted bobbin by the feeler mechanism; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional perspective similar to that shown inFig. 2, but shown with the slide bolt released from latched engagementwith the feeler slide for normal idle operation.

The loom to which the filling feeler slide mechanism of the presentinvention is applied may be of the general conventional type. and

may comprise a conventional feeler mechanism in which a feeler tip ismoved sidewise along the bare portion of a nearly exhausted bobbin toactuate a connecting rod, or may comprise the improved feeler mechanismI0, forming the subject-matter of a co-pending application, Serial N708,638, filed November'8, 1946. This improvedfeeler mechanism Itcomprises generally a spring-pressed feeler rod ll mounted for end- Wisemovement in a fixed case I2, and pivotally carrying a, feeler tip l3presenting a curved feeler surface I4. A spring-pressed indicator rod I5pivotally secured to the feeler tip I3 is mounted for endwise'andangular movement in the case l2. A connecting rod I1 mounted for endwisemovement hasone end in the angular path of movement of the indicator rodI5. r

The feeler mechanism I0 is mounted on one side of the loom, as forexample, on the left side, in -front of the picking course of theshuttle. Upon each alternate forward beat-upmovement of the lay, thechecked bobbin engages the feeler tip I3. When the bobbin has an amplesupply of filling yarn, this yarn engaging the tip I3 provides enoughfriction to prevent rotation of said' tip about its pivotal mountingwith the feelerv ro'd. II. -Under these conditions, the indicator rod I5is moved endwise by the advancing bobbin without actuating theconnecting rod II.

When the supply of yarn on the bobbin is nearly. exhausted, the bareportion of the bobbin engages the feeler tip. I3 on the next beat-upstroke of the lay, causing said tip thereby to rotate about its pivotalmounting with the feeler rod II. This causes the indicator rod I5 to beangularly tilted into engagement with one end of the connecting rod l1,so that said rod is moved endwise against the action of .a spring at itsother end. At this latter end, the connecting rod ll operates a fillingfeeler slide mechanism 25 to initiatethe operation of the replenishingmechanism." V I The feeler'controlled slide mechanism 25 of the presentinvention comprises'theusual starting rod 30, which is ordinarilystationary, and which, upon rotation, initiates the operation of thereplenishing mechanism in'a manner well-known in the art. Forrotating'this starting rod 30, thereis rigidly. connectedthereto a crankarm 3| having at its outer end a knuckle joint connection 32 to' one endof a short rod 33, the other end being adjustably secured to the forwardend of'a filling feeler slide 34.- The connection between-the rod 33 andthe slide 34 is rendered adjustable by threading said rod into saidslide,

and providing a locking nut 35 on the threaded portion of said rodbearing against the forward end of said slide.

The slide 3 is guided for horizontal movement, and for that purpose, hasa bed plate 36 extending on its opposite sides with slide fits intorespective guide recesses 31 in a filling motion bracket 38 secured tothe breast beam of the loom. The slide 34 is maintained in inoperativeforward position shown in Fig. 1 by a spring (not, shown) acting on thestarting rod 36, and by a stop (not shown) for said rod operatingagainst the force of said spring to limit said slide in said position ina manner well-knownin the art,

A filling cam follower 45 is provided, which may be oscillated by virtueof the filling motion cam on the main cam shaft in the usual manner, orby virtue of a cam n the take-up drive shaft, in accordance with animproved arrangement shown in copending application, Serial No. 739,044,filed April 2, 1947, and which is brought forwardly each time that theshuttle is checked in the left-hand shuttle box of the 100m. This camfollower 45 may have an arm 46, which operates the filling stop motionserving to automatically stop the machine when the filling breaks, in amanner well-known in the art, and has a curved arm 41 extending in anelongated. slot 49 in the slide 34 and terminating at its outer end in adog 50.

Between the cam follower dog 50 and the slide 3 1 is a latch, which isordinarily released to permit said dog to operate idly in the slide 34,and which is automatically tripped by the connecting rod ll, to locksaid slide to said dog, and thereby cause the forward movement of theslide to the right, to rotate the starting rod 36 upon thenext forwardmovement of said cam follower dog. This latch comprises a plunger; orslide bolt shown of cylindrical shape, and having a slide fit in ahorizontal bore 52 in the slide34. The cam follower dog 50 extends in aslot 53 in the bolt 5i, and is formed-with opposite convexly curvededges 54 and 55.adapted to. engage the. corresponding edges 56and-5:Irespectively of said slot 53, to afford between said .dog andsaid bolt a connection which will permit limited rotation of said dog insaidslot as said bolt 5| isreciprocated in the slide 34.

As the camfollower 45 is oscillated, the bolt 5i is horizontally movedidly thereby intheslide 34, while said slide is maintained in theinoperative position ShOWn in Fig. 1. To latch the bolt 5! to the slide34 upon actuation of the connecting rod l1, said slide has a bore .60extending from its rear end obliquely upwardly towards the bore 52, andclosed at its outer rear-end by a screw plug 6|. Housed in this obliquebore 66 is a movable catch piece 62, which is shown in the form of aspherical steel ball, and which is adapted to enter a notch 63 on theunderside of the bolt 5!. This notch 63 is just deep enough to receivepart of the ball 62 in latched position thereof shown in Fig. 2, Whilethe rest of the ball projects into the bore 60, to interlock the bolt 5|and the slide 34 for movement inunison.

The ball 62 is normally in released position out of the bolt notch 63 asshown in Fig. 3. To move this ball 62 into the bolt notch 63 and intoposition shown in Fig. 2, upon actuation of the connecting rod I1, saidrod is, connected at one end to a trip plunger or trigger .65, having aslide lit in a horizontal bore 66 of the slide 34, andspring pressedoutwardly away from said. slide by means of a coil spring 61 bearingatone endagainst 761. rotated, andthe replenishing operation initiated;

J condition of the mechanism the outside of the slide, and bearing atthe other end against a head 68 at the outer end of said plunger. Thehead 68 is formed with an apertured lug 69, to which one end of theconnecting rod I! is anchored. With this spring-pressed trip plungerarrangement as described, the connecting rod I1 is normally biasedtowards the feeler mechanism 10.

To move the latch ball 62 from the normally released position shown inFig. 3 into the bolt notch 63 upon actuation of the connecting rod H,the inner end of the trip plunger 65 is bevelled to define a cam surface16. Upon movement of thetri-pv plunger 6'5, inwardly towards the slide34 against the action of the spring 61, this cam surface Ill-engagingthe ball .62 moves said ball upwardly in the bore 66 and into the boltnotch 63.

The notch 53 is desirably designed to permit easy entry of the ball 62therein, and to retain said ball therein until it is proper time torelease it. For that purpose, the notch 63 has a rear edge 13, which isinclined in a general direction substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the bore 60, so that said edge aligns with the rearlongitudinal side of said bore in latched position of the ball 62 shownin Fig. 2. This alignment of the rear notch edge with the rearlongitudinal side of the bore 611 permits not only easy entry of theball 62 into the notch 63, but also affords a design in which said notchedge bearing against said ball during forward movement of the slide bolt5! to the right, presses said ball against the opposite wall of saidbore and thereby retains said ball in latched position, even though thetrip plunger 65 has been withdrawn from the bore .60. At the same time,thelatched ball 62 pressing against the wall of the bore 66 pushessaidslide 34 forwardly with the bolt 5!.

Normally, in the idle operation of the filling feeler slide mechanism25, the trip plunger 651s in withdrawn position from the bore 66, andthe ball 62 is'inreleased position at the bottom of said bore, as shownin Fig. 3. Inthis normal 25, the cam follower dog 56 as it oscillatesmoves in the bore 52, while the slide 34 is held in stationary positionby the spring-pressed. starting rod 30.

When the yarn supply on the bobbin becomes sufficiently exhaustedtooperate the feeler mechanism l6, and, thereby to actuate theconnecting rodll, said rod moves the tripxplunger 65 into the bore 66against The tripping movement of the-plunger 65 is so timed With respectto the operation of the filling cam follower 55, that the slide bolt 5!is slightly past the beginning ofitsforward stroke to the right, withthe notch 63 in registry with the bore 66, as shown in Fig. 2, whensaidplunger 51 is so operated. This inward tripping movement of the plunger65' cams the ball 62 upwardly into the notch'63 of the slide bolt 51.

Duringthe forward stroke ofthe camfollower d 56 to the right (Fig.2),:the forward curved edge '54, of, said (10g engages the edge 56 ofthe bolt slot 53, and pushes the bolt 55- forwardly towards the right(Fig. 2), thereby causing the inclined edge "E3 of the notch 63 to presstheball 62, against the opposite wall of the bore 66; This action servesto hold the ball 62in latched position, and serves to move the slide 34'rearwardly towards the right against the action: of the. spring onthestartingrod 351, so that said starting rod is the slide bolt 5| idly theaction of the spring 61.-

During this forward movement of the slide 34 towards the right, thefeeler I3 is restored into inoperative position, so that the tripplunger 65 is withdrawn out of blockin position with respect to the ball62. However, the ball 62 is retained in latched position describedduring the forward stroke of the dog 50 by the pressure between thenotch edge 13 and the opposite wall of the bore 62 created by thepushing action of the cam follower dog 58 on the bolt 5| as described.

Upon completion of the forward stroke of the dog 50 towards the right,and during rearward return stroke of said dog towards the left, theslide 34 is pushed rearwardly by the spring acting on the starting rod30. Thispresses the ball 62 against the notch edge 13 and causes therebythe edge 56 of slot 53 in the bolt 5| to be pushed against the edge 54of the dog 50, so that the return of the slide 34 is eifectedsimultaneously with the return of the cam follower 45, even though thetrip plunger 85 has been withdrawn from the bore 6! This isadvantageous, since the slide 3d would otherwise be snapped back byspring pressure and unimpeded into the position shown in Fig. 1, andthis may, as a result, have an unfavorable vibratory or shocking effecton the loom.

Just before the dog Ell reaches the end of its rearward stroke towardsthe left, the slide 34 will stop, as a result of a stop arrangementprovided in connection with the starting rod 30. There is enoughclearance between the ball 62 and the edge 75 of the bolt notch 63 topermit the bolt 5i to move rearwardly to the left with respect to thestopped slide 3d as the dog 59 completes its rearward stroke to theleft. This movement of the bolt 5! to the left relative to the stoppedslide 3t releases the holding pressure on the ball 62 and permits saidball to drop down into the bore Gil. The bolt 5| will then resume itsnormal idle operation under the action of the cam follower dog '50,until the next detecting impulse from the feeler mechanism H3 isreceived.

As many changes can be made in the above mechanism, and many apparentlywidely different embodiments of this invention can be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a startingmember for initiating a replenishing operation, a slide, a connectionbetween said slide and said starting member for actuating said startingmember upon movement of said slide, a latch bolt mounted in said slidefor slide movement with respect thereto, an operating member connectedto said latch bolt and adapted normally to oscillate said latch boltidly in said slide in time sequence with an operating part of the loom,and means for latching said bolt to said slide upon reception of afeeler detecting impulse, to move said slide with said operating memberand thereby actuate said starting memher.

2. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a startingmember for initiatin a, replenishing operation, a slide, a connectionbetween said slide and said starting member for actuating said startingmember upon movement of said slide, a latch bolt mounted in said slidefor slide movement with respect thereto, an operating member connected.to said latch bolt and adapted normally to oscillate said latch boltidly in said slide in time sequence with an operating Part of the loom,and a ball movable into position to latch said bolt to said slide uponreception of a feeler detecting impulse, whereby said slide is movedwith said operating member, and said starting member thereby actuated.

3. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a startingmember for initiating a replenishing operation, a, slide, a connectionbetween said slide and said startingmember for actuating said startingmember upon movement of said slide, a latch bolt mounted in said slidefor slide movement with respect thereto, an opcrating member connectedto said latch bolt and adapted normally to oscillate said latch boltidly in said slide in time sequence with an operating part of the loom,a ball mounted in said slide and normally disengaged from said bolt, anda feeler controlled plunger mounted in said slide for moving said ballinto position to latch said bolt to said slide, and thereby cause saidslide to move.

4. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a startingmember for initiating a replenishing operation, a slide, a connectionbetween said slide and said starting member for actuating said startingmember upon movement of said slide, a latch bolt mounted in said slidefor slide movement with respect thereto and having a notch, a fillingmotion cam follower connected to said latch bolt and adapted normally tooscillate said latch bolt idly in said slide, a catch piece movablysupported in said slide, and feeler controlledmeans for moving saidcatch piece into said notch and into latched engagement with said slideto move said slide with said cam follower and thereby actuate saidstarting member.

5. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a startingmember for initiating a replenishing operation, a slide, a connectionbetween said slide and said starting member for actuating said startingmember upon movement of said slide, a latch bolt mounted in said slidefor slide movement with respect thereto and having a notch, a fillingmotion cam follower connected to said latch bolt and adapted normally tooscillate said latch bolt idly in said slide, a ball movably supportedin said slide, and feeler controlled means for camming said ball intosaid notch and into latched engagement with said slide to move saidslide with said cam follower and thereby actuate said starting member.

6. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a startingmember for initiating a replenishing operation, a slide, a connectionbetween said slide and said starting member for actuating said startingmember upon movement of said slide, a latch bolt mounted in said slidefor slide movement with respect thereto and having a notch on its bottomside, a cam follower connected to said latch bolt and adapted normallyto oscillate said latch bolt idly in said slide, said slide having abore leading downwardly from the underside of said latch bolt, a movablecatch piece in said bore, and a feeler controlled plunger mounted insaid slide and adapted to extend into said bore upon reception of afeeler detecting impulse, to raise said catch piece into said notch andinto latched engagement with said slide, whereby said slide is movedwith said cam follower and said starting member is actuated.

7. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a rotatablestarting rod for initiating '7 a replenishing operation, a slide, 'acrank arm connectedto said rod and having 'a hinge connection withsaid-slide, a latch bolt mounted in said'slide for slide'movement withrespect thereto and having a notch on its bottom side, a cam followerconnected to said latch bolt and adapted normally to oscillate saidlatch bolt idly in said slide, said slide having a bore leadingdownwardly from the undersideof said latch bolt, a movable ball in saidbore, and a feeler controlled plunger mounted in said slide and adaptedto extend into said bore upon reception of a feeler detecting impulse toraise said ball upwardly into said notch 'and into latched engagementwith said slide, whereby said slide is moved with said cam follower, andsaid starting member is actuated.

8. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom,

comprising a starting member for initiating a replenishing operation, aslide, connection between said slide and said starting member foractuating said starting member upon movement of said slide, a latch boltmounted in said slide for slide movement with respect thereto and havinga notch on its bottom side, a cam follower connected to said latch boltand adapted normally to oscillate said latch bolt idly in said slide,said slide having a bore leading downwardly from the underside of saidlatch bolt, a movable catch piece in said bore, and a feeler controlledplunger mounted in said slide for slide movement transverse to thelongitudinal axis of the bore and adapted to extend into said bore uponreception of a feeler detecting impulse, said plunger having a camsurface adapted to engage and raise said catch piece into said notch andinto latched engagement with said slide, upon movement of said plungertowards said bore, whereby said slide is moved with said cam followerand said starting member is actuated.

9. A filling feeler slide mechanism-for a loom, comprising a rotatablestarting rodfor initiating a replenishing operation, a slide, a crankarm connected to said rod and having a hinge connection with said slide,a latch bolt mounted in said slide for slide movement with respect thereto and having a notch on its bottom side, a cam follower connected tosaid latch bolt and adapted normally to oscillate said latch bolt idlyin said slide, said slide having a bore leading downwardly from theunderside of said latch bolt, a movable ball in saidbore, and a feelercontrolled plunger mounted in said slide for slide movement transverseto the longitudinal axis of the bore and adapted to have its inner endextend into said here upon reception of a feeler detecting impulse, saidinner plunger end being bevelled to present an upwardly facingcamsurfaceadapted to engage and raise said ball into said notch and intolatched engagement with said slide upon movement of said plunger towardssaid bore,whereby said slide is moved with said cam follower and saidstarting member is actuated.

10. A filling feeler slide-mechanism for a loom, eomprisinga startingmember for initiating a replenishing operation, a cam follower, anormally disengaged connection between said cam follower and saidstarting member, said connection including a latch ballnormally indisengaged position, and movable therefrom into position to engage saidconnection, and means operable upon reception of a feeler detecting im-8 pulse for moving said ball into position to engage said connection,and thereby actuate said starting member.

11.'In a filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, the combinationcomprising a slide normally held against movement, and adapted toinitiate replenishing operations upon movement thereof, a slide bolt insaid slide having a slot, a cam follower having an arm extending intosaid slot and engaging said bolt to oscillate said bolt idly withrespect to said slide as said cam follower is oscillated, and feelercontrolled releasable latch means between said slide and said bolt.

12.111 a filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom as described in claim11, in which said cam follower arm terminates at its outer end in a dog,and said bolt has a slot into which said dog extends with a fit looseenough to permit limited rotation of said dog relative to said bolt assaid dog is oscillated.

13. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a slidenormally held against movement and adapted to initiate replenishingoperations upon movement thereof, a slide bolt mounted in said slide, acam follower adapted to be oscillated in time sequence with an operatingpart of the loom and connected to said slide bolt to normally oscillatesaid bolt idly with respect to said slide, a normally disengaged latchconnection between said bolt and said slide, and feeler controlled meansfor effecting engagement of said latch connection near the beginning ofone of the strokes of said cam follower upon reception of a feelerdetecting impulse, said latch connection being operable to sustainautomatically its engagement when once effected, until the cam followerreaches almost the end of its next return stroke, even though saidfeeler con trolled means is returned into inoperative position beforethe end of said first-mentioned stroke.

14. A filling feeler slide mechanism for a loom, comprising a slidenormally held against movement and adapted to initiate replenishingoperations upon movement thereof, a slide bolt mounted in said slide, acam follower adapted to be oscillated in time sequence with an operatingpart of the loom and connected to said slide bolt to normally oscillatesaid bolt idly with respect to said slide, the underside of said bolthaving a notch, said slide having a bore extending to the underside ofsaid bolt and inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of saidbolt, one of the edges of said notch being substantially parallel tosaid bore axis, a ball in said bore, and

feeler controlled means for latching said ball into said notch, saidball'in notched position engaging said notch edge and the opposite wallof said bore.

JOHN RINNE. EVERETT -H. ASHTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,590,564 Davis June 29, 19261,993,146 Bush Mar. 5, 193

2,420,473 Geddings May 13, 1947

